Phyllonorycter klemannella
Dark Alder Midget
Phyllonorycter kleemannella
Wingspan 7 to 9 mm. The larva mines the leaves of Alder, creating a tentiform mine between two veins on the underside, with a winkled surface withut sharp folds. The larva is white or yellow, and the pupa is in a cocoon with frass heaped to one side.
It can be similar to mines of P rajella or P froehlichiella. If in doubt, examine larva or pupa. (ref. Bladmineerders.nl)
Photogrpah the under-surface of the mine, and larva/pupa. Note host species
Around Alder.
The adults fly mostly in August, but the species may produce two broods a year, with moths also recorded in May.
The larva feeds on alder, forming a small blotch mine on the underside of a leaf. Sometimes several larvae mine the same leaf.
Distributed throughout mainland Britain, though rare in the southern half of Scotland and in Ireland, it can be common in places. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Once considered rare in Leicestershire and Rutland, but with more leafmining activity taking place in recent years this species has proved to be much more common than previously thought.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- Dark Alder Midget
- Species group:
- Moths
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Lepidoptera
- Family:
- Gracillariidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 22
- First record:
- 01/08/2011 (Skevington, Mark)
- Last record:
- 15/10/2025 (Calow, Graham)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.
 
                                       
                        



